Master of Philosophy in Classical Archaeology

Differences from 2019/20 to 2021/22

Within the Division of Social Sciences, the course shall be administered by the School of Archaeology. The regulations made are as follows:

  • 1. Candidates for admission must apply to the School of Archaeology. They will be required to produce evidence of their appropriate qualifications for the proposed course, including their suitable proficiency in relevant ancient or modern languages.

  • 2. Candidates must follow for six terms a course of instruction in Classical Archaeology.

  • 3. The registration of candidates shall lapse from the Register of M.Phil. students on the last day of Trinity Term in the academic year after that in which their name is first entered in it, unless the committee decides otherwise.

  • 4. All candidates are required:

    • (a ) to satisfy the examiners in a Qualifying Examination identical with that for the degree of Master of Studies in Classical Archaeology and governed by regulations 5-9 for that degree, in the Trinity Full Term of the academic year in which their name is first entered on the Register of M.Phil. students except that under regulation 5(b) of that degree a dissertation of not more than 10,000 words may not normally be offered in place of one of the subject options (examined by two pre-set essays). In the case of failure in one part of the qualifying examination, the candidate will have the same rights of resubmission as for the M.St in Classical Archaeology and, if successful, will be granted permission to supplicate for the degree of M.St in Classical Archaeology but will not be permitted to proceed to the second year of the M.Phil. in Classical Archaeology. Candidates whose work in the Qualifying Examination is judged by the examiners to be of the standard required for the degree of M.St. in Classical Archaeology but not of the standard required to proceed to the second year of the M.Phil. in Classical Archaeology, will be granted permission to supplicate for the degree of Master of Studies in Classical Archaeology;

    • (b ) to upload to the AssignmentsUniversity sectionapproved ofonline theassessment course WebLearn site platform no later than noon on the Friday of the sixth week of Trinity Full Term in the academic year after that in which their name is first entered on the Register for M.Phil. Students, a thesis1 of not more than 25,000 words (excluding bibliography and any descriptive catalogue or other factual matter, but including notes and appendices) on the subject approved in accordance with regulations 6 and 10 below; the thesis should bear the candidate's examination number but not his or her name;

    • (c ) to offer a further subject chosen from Schedules B-C for the Master of Studies in Classical Archaeology to be examined by two pre-set essays each of not more than 5,000 words. [Candidates who offered a subject from Schedule C in the qualifying examination may not normally offer another subject from Schedule C];

    • (d ) to present themselves for an oral examination as required by the examiners.

  • 5. The choice of subjects for thesis and pre-set essays must be approved by the candidate's supervisor and by the Graduate Studies Committee of the School of Archaeology, having regard to the candidate's previous experience and to the availability of teaching.

  • 6. Candidates will be expected to show sufficient general knowledge of Ancient History and Geography for a proper understanding of their periods and subjects.

  • 7. The period or subject for examination must be submitted for approval by the Graduate Studies Committee of the School of Archaeology,  by noon of Friday of seventh week of the Trinity Full Term of the academic year in which the candidate's name is first entered on the Register for M.Phil. students. Notice of the subject to be offered by candidates must be given to the Registrar (via Student Self-Service) not later than Friday of the eighth week that same term.

  • 8. Where options are being examined by pre-set essays (as specified in 4(c) above), candidates will propose essay topics in consultation with their supervisor or relevant course provider. The proposed essay titles, countersigned by the supervisor, must be submitted for approval to the Chair of Examiners by no later than noon on Friday of the eighth week of the term in which the instruction for that subject is given. Candidates must  upload their essays to the AssignmentsUniversity sectionapproved ofonline theassessment course WebLearn siteplatform by no later than noon on the Monday of theweek first week0 of the term following that in which the instruction for that subject was given to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford. Essays must bear the candidate's examination number but not his or her name. 

  • With respect to pre-set essays and theses, only the file submitted via WebLearnthe University approved online assessment platform constitutes a valid submission, no concomitant hard-copy submission may be submitted for any purpose.  Each submission must be accompanied by a declaration indicating that it is the candidate's own work.

  • 9. The proposed thesis title must be submitted for approval by the committee in time for its meeting in the eighth week of the Trinity Term of the year in which the candidate's name is first entered on the Register for M.Phil. students. The finalised thesis title must be submitted to the Chair of Examiners by no later than noon on Friday of the eighth week in Hilary Term in the academic year after that in which their name is first entered on the Register for M.Phil. students.

  • 10. Candidates are advised that adequate reading knowledge of an appropriate language or languages (other than English) may be necessary to reach the standard required by the examiners.

  • 11. Successful candidates will be required to deposit one copy of the thesis in the Sackler Library. Such candidates will be required to complete a form stating whether they give permission for their thesis to be consulted.

  • 12. In the case of failure in just one part of the final examination, the candidate will be permitted to retake that part of the examination on one further occasion, not later than one year after the initial attempt. Written papers would be retaken the following year. A candidate who is not judged to have reached the standard required for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Classical Archaeology but whose examinations fulfil the requirements of the M.St in Classical Archaeology may be granted permission to supplicate for the degree of M.St in Classical Archaeology.

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1 See the general regulation concerning the preparation and dispatch of theses. Candidates are reminded (i) that two copies are required but that one of these may be a reproduction or carbon copy of the other, provided that any maps, diagrams, or other
illustrations in the second copy are adequately reproduced, (ii) that the copy of the thesis deposited in the Sackler Library shall be the one containing the original illustrations, and (iiiii) that work submitted for the Degree of M.Phil. may be subsequently incorporated in a thesis submitted for the Degree of D.Phil.